Older workers get a little help

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Program (TIOW) is a joint federal-provincial cost sharing initiative intended to provide unemployed (or working less than 20 hours a week) mature workers in vulnerable communities with programming aimed at increasing their employability. The program is administered through Employment Planning and Councilling located at 418 Sheridan Street, Peterborough.

To be eligible for TIOW an individual needs to be:

• Unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week

• Between the ages of 55-64

• Live in Peterborough or Peterborough County

• Wanting to commit to 25 hours per week on determining their career direction and job searching at this specific stage in their life

• Ready, willing and able to job search

• Participants can be in receipt of CPP, EI, or OW

The program at EPC involves a client meeting with the Case Manager to determine their suitability for the program. Suitability depends on where the person is open to the job search process, if they are not ready, willing or able to job search, this program may not be for them.

The program will involve eight weeks of Career Direction Workshops which can include areas such as – overcoming job loss, identification of essential skills, basic computer training, resumes, interviews, interest testing, job search techniques, goal setting, overcoming ageism, social networking, self-employment, certification training, etc. These workshops are done in a group setting and intake is done on a continuous basis. A person needs to be able to commit 25 hours per week to the TIOW program of which will be spent in workshops, assignments and independent job search activities depending upon an individual’s goal and service plan.

The program also has the capacity to assist people in need of job development and provide placement incentives to access available employment (with limited funds). It can also assist people with accessing specific skills training, targeted to meet identified or anticipated labour market demands such as POS, security guard certification, computer training, forklift etc. Discretionary funds may also be made available for expenses such as travel, criminal record checks, phone cards, safety equipment, uniforms, haircuts etc., to assist in the finding/keeping of employment.